Vending-machine.



J. W. PATTERSON. VEN DIN G MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1906.

974,814. Pateted Nov. 8, 1910.

THE NnRRls Pls-1ER: cnr-.'wnsumcfuu, n. c.

JAMES W. PATTERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VENDIN G-IVIACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 191).

Application iled September 25, 1906. Serial No. 336,139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kno-wn that I, JAMES IV. PATTERSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to vending machines and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the ac.- companying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of vending machine suitable for use on the backs of the seats or chairs of theaters and more especially adapted for selling packages of confections.

More particularly my invention is to so form a coin controlled vending machine or box that the retaining part constitutes the bottom and is adapted to open under the manipulation of the coin controlled lock to allow the package or article to drop out of the bottom of the boX by gravity.

My invention consists of a case closed at the top and open at the bottom, combined with a retaining device or movable bottom to normally hold the package or vendible article within t-he case, and a coin controlled lock releasing the retaining device or bottom so that the package or article may drop down out of the case for delivery.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to t-he drawings, in

which Figure l is a vertical section of my improved vending machine or box; Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the operating part of the lock removed; and Fig. 3 is a rear or inside view of that portion of the lock which has been removed from Fig. 2.

A is the case and is closed on all sides except the bottom C and this is provided with a hinged bottom or retaining part B. I prefer that the hinged bottom part B shall, when closed, be at some distance above the lower edge C of the case so as to prevent tampering with the said hinged bottom. This, however, is not essential to the operativeness of the box.

D is a locking plate and is movable transversely under the action of the coin. This plate has a downward extension E which is notched so as to act as a locking bolt for securing the hinged bottom B in locked position. As shown, the locking plate is upon the outside of the wall of the case and the downward extension is upon the inside, it

passing through a slot e in the wall of the case. The locking plate I) is provided with a stud F against which the coin is forced for moving the plate to the left (Fig. to release the bottom B.

A dog M is pivoted to t-he case and spring pressed by spring N to engage a notch on the locking plate as shown to keep it in locking posit-ion. This dog M has a projection m against which the coin is forced for depressing the dog and releasing the locking plate D just as the coin is forced against the part F of the locking plate.

The coin is guided by a coin slot H H in the front plate Gr of the lock.

I is a notched disk which may be rotated by a knob or handle K extendingto the outside of the plate Gr as shown in Fig. l. The coin is placed in the slot H at the top of the machine and passes downward until it is received in one of the notches of the disk. The rotation of this disk carries the coin past the pivoted paw'l and .then downward against the projection mof the dog M. This releases the locking plate I) and a further movement of the disk carries the coin against the projection F of the locking plate and shifts the plate to release the bottom B. The coin now desc-ends the slot H and is sustained by the retainer I). This retainer is locked in retaining position by tumblers Q and is normally forced into locking position by the spring T. To unlock or withdraw the retainer P, a pivoted lever R is employed. A suitably shaped key is adapted to enter the slot S and simultaneously lift the tumbler Q and move the lever R, with the result that the retainer P is drawn back and held there so long as the key remains in place. When the key is withdrawn, the retainer P is forced back into retaining 'position by the spring T.

To lock the bottom B of the case, it is first raised and then by a suitable key inserted in the slot L and pressing against a lug L on the locking plate said plate is forced into locking position as shown. In this manner the lock is reset or locked by hand and unlocked by the coin.

A projection Z may be formed on the locking plate and adapted to travel into the coin slot H to prevent a coin being inserted except when said locking plate is in locking position. This is important in this box because the interior of the box cannot be seen, nor is the pivoted bottom in View. This construction of box is inexpensive because it dispenses with the lifting frame and its spring which are necessary in those types of boxes which discharge from the top.

Vhile I prefer the construction shown, the details thereof may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I-Iaving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A vending machine consisting of a case permanently closed on all sides and top and open at the bottom part only, combined with a gravity actuated movable bottom for supporting the article pivoted on a fixed axis within the case above the lower edge thereof and closely fitting the four walls of the said case to shield the edges of the bottom and close the case, a locking part within the chamber sealed by the bottom for locking the bottom in retaining position, and means having a hand operated part arranged upon the outer part of the case for causing the locking part to release the movablebottom and allow the article to discharge itself by gravity.

2. A vending machine consisting of a case open at the bottom part only, combined with a single gravity actuated movable bottom for supporting the article pivoted on a fixed axis within the case at a considerable distance above the lower edge thereof and closely fitting the walls of said case to shield the edges of the bottom and close the case, a locking part for locking the bottom in retaining position consisting of a fiat plate part of which is outside of the case and part within the same for engaging the movable bottom, and means having a rotatable hand operated part for causing the locking part to release the movable bottom and allow the article to discharge itself by gravity.

3. In a vending machine, a box shaped sheet metal case permanently closed on all sides and top and open at the bottom only, combined with a single closely tting gravity actuating bottom located at a distance within the case and fitting the side walls thereof and pivoted thereto so that when thebottom is dropped it is shielded within the case, means for holding the movable bottom in locked position consisting of a sliding plate arranged against the wall of the case and having an engaging part for the bottom, and a rotatable hand operated part upon the outside of the case yto move the sliding plate in the plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the hand operated part.

4l. In a vending machine, the combination of a case open at the bottom only, a hinged bottom to close the open bottom of the case and support the article but permit it to drop by gravity when the bottom is open, said bottom hinged on a fixed axis at a distance above the bottom of the case and a lock arranged at the front and upper part of the case and having a locking and releasing device extending from the outer and upper part of the case down through the wall of the case to the inner and lower part thereof for making engagement with the hinged bottom upon the inside of the case, whereby the operation of the lock at the top and outside of the case may affect the release of the hinged bottom at the bottom and inside of the case.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of a case closed on sides and top and having a lateral slot c through its front wall and also having an open bottom, a bottom door hinged to the open bottom of the case, a locking plate D upon the outside of the case, and having a locking part E for the bottom extending through the lateral slot e to the inside of the case and extending downward to engage the hinged bottom door to lock the same in closed position, and hand operated means upon the outside and upper part of the case for shifting the locking plate to release the hinged bottom door.

6. In a vending machine, the combination of a case permanently closed on all sides but the bottom, a hinged bottom to close the bottom of the case, means for lockiiig the hinged bottom in closed position and also for releasing the hinged bottom and permitting the article within the case to fall by gravity said means consisting of a laterally reciprocatable plate engaging the bottom and having an upper extension reaching nearly to the top of the case, and hand operated rotary means arranged on the outside and front of the case near its top for moving the plate in one direction to unlock the bottom, and means for applying a key to move the plate in the other direction to lock the bottom.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

JAMES IV. PATTERSON.

` lVitnesses:

It. N. AGNEW, I-I. A. DIEHM. 

